Bettis, aldermen react to Outlaw’s victory

Published: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 06:16 PM.

Bettis said it would be interesting to know what that vision is.

“Elections are bloodless revolutions where there is a turnover of power,” he said.

But Bettis said he “wholeheartedly” believes in the democratic process and supporting those who win elected office whether you agree or disagree with them. But once the next term is complete, if citizens do not support the incumbents, it is time to move forward, he said.

Although his family life is better now than it has ever been, Bettis said being mayor and a practicing attorney and working sometimes 85 hours a week took a toll on him.

“Being a public servant is very rewarding,” Bettis said. “It also takes a lot out of you emotionally, mentally and, for me, physically. I want to make sure my wife and kids are behind me if I ever decide to run for another office.”

Incumbent Alderman Johnnie Ray Kinsey, who won re-election in October to represent Ward 4 by beating Robert Natella and Bee Mayo, said he was not surprised with the runoff election and could have worked with either candidate.

“We had two qualified people that could run the city, and the citizens made the selection,” Kinsey said. “But it was a very small selection. I didn’t understand the low turnout.”

New Bern Mayor Lee Bettis said he was a little surprised at the outcome of Tuesday’s mayoral runoff election and the victory by Alderman Dana Outlaw’s over fellow Alderman Sabrina Bengel.

Outlaw will take over Bettis’ role as mayor in December and will oversee a Board of Aldermen consisting of three new members and three incumbents.

“I have disagreed with Dana on just about everything he has done,” Bettis said Wednesday. “My vision was for a professional cooperation where we could attract people and businesses outside North Carolina. He has a different vision of what New Bern should be. I disagree. However, that is his vision and is what the people voted for.”

Outlaw was duly elected mayor and that is what the democratic process is about, Bettis said.

“In a democratic society, you have different visions, competitive visions that oftentimes clash,” he said. “Now it’s his opportunity to bring that vision to the board and see how it works out.”

Bettis said he thought Outlaw would have support on the Board of Aldermen to further his vision.

“He has been locked into a voting bloc with the three incumbents for the past four years,” Bettis said. “Jeffery Odham (who won a seat on the Board of Aldermen in Tuesday’s runoff) is his friend, so with a voting bloc of five people (including Outlaw’s own vote) I believe, whatever his vision is, he can implement it because he will have a voting bloc of five.”

Bettis said it would be interesting to know what that vision is.

“Elections are bloodless revolutions where there is a turnover of power,” he said.

But Bettis said he “wholeheartedly” believes in the democratic process and supporting those who win elected office whether you agree or disagree with them. But once the next term is complete, if citizens do not support the incumbents, it is time to move forward, he said.

Although his family life is better now than it has ever been, Bettis said being mayor and a practicing attorney and working sometimes 85 hours a week took a toll on him.

“Being a public servant is very rewarding,” Bettis said. “It also takes a lot out of you emotionally, mentally and, for me, physically. I want to make sure my wife and kids are behind me if I ever decide to run for another office.”

Incumbent Alderman Johnnie Ray Kinsey, who won re-election in October to represent Ward 4 by beating Robert Natella and Bee Mayo, said he was not surprised with the runoff election and could have worked with either candidate.

“We had two qualified people that could run the city, and the citizens made the selection,” Kinsey said. “But it was a very small selection. I didn’t understand the low turnout.”

Kinsey said it was hard to understand why only 5,289 people voted in the mayoral election out of 32,000 residents after the concerns he hears on the board from citizens about the city.

Kinsey said he didn’t know the new aldermen who will take their places on the board in December.

“But when I went in, I was brand new,” he said. “I’ll just have to sit down and talk to them. That is the key, to listen, to understand what their visions and dreams are for what they want to do for the city and work from there.”

Incumbent Alderman Bernard White of Ward 5, who won re-election after beating Sammy Dodd and Jamara Wallace at the polls in October, said he could have worked with either mayoral candidate, as he did for four years on the board.

“Now we have to see what he (Outlaw) will do and how he will work along with the aldermen,” White said. “I guess everything will work out pretty good. Right now we will just try to keep things going. We will have to work with the mayor to make the city of New Bern a little better.”